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From inspections in the schools and observations in the surgeries, there is no doubt
that a very considerable amount of treatment is now being obtained for schoolchildren
from sources other than the school dental service. A study of ' acceptance ' and ' dentally
fit' figures would indicate that approximately 50 per cent, of schoolchildren obtain dental
treatment within any 12 months. Only half the school population attending for such treatment
in a year does not necessarily imply neglect of/by the absentee half; many of them
will have attended in preceding months or will attend later, while of those co.operating
in a current year not all will continue to do so in a succeeding year. The one-time familiar
figure of total dental neglect is now very seldom seen. Parents are no longer ignorant of
the advisability of ensuring that their children have a regular dental' check-up '; nevertheless
procrastination and deliberate avoidance are still too commonplace.
Tables (i) and (ii) show fluctuations and afford comparison with previous years and also
show that there is little difference in results from the preceding year. Reflections of the
better standard of dentistry in the Council's treatment centres can be seen in table (iii)
where the ratio of fillings in permanent teeth to extractions has reached the highest point
recorded (12-5:1) and table (ii) shows a continuing decline in the number of sessions
devoted to ' gas extractions'—from approximately 1,000 in 1960 to half that number in
1964. Attendances on average at the sessions held were also reduced, indicating that need
for destructive treatment is declining.